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Game Jam (Spring 2017)

Friday, May 26, 2017 — 4:30 PM to Sunday, May 28, 2017 — 7:00 PM EDT

This event is an opportunity to make games, explore new game ideas, and interact with fellow game-lovers in an exciting and relaxed environment. Learn something, teach something, make something, and play something!

The event is a community-based effort to increase the total knowledge, experience, and ideas available to community members. Do you know something about games that may interest others? Then volunteer! We want to know what you know!

We will also be holding a separate (free) PLAY event to showcase the games made at this event, happening on June 3rd. Stay tuned for details!

Q: How much does this event cost, and how do I pay?

Payment is required to confirm your attendance. The costs help us cover event supplies, equipment use, as well as catered lunches for all attendees!

Q: Do I have to be qualified to volunteer?

A: Not necessarily—we do need people just to help with setup/cleanup/registration/lunch. If you want to do a talk or tutorial, you should have some confidence that you know something that would be useful or interesting. If you say you can do a talk or tutorial I’ll most likely believe you—I’m not interested in stopping any enthusiastic volunteers. Please let us know if you'd like to lend a hand as a mentor, tutorial-giver, skill-haver, setter-upper, or anything else!

Q: Do I have to stay the entire time?

A: No! We’re going to organize volunteers into shifts. You are, of course, free (and encouraged!) to participate even when not “on duty.”

Q: Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Q: Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

A: You do not need to bring your printed ticket, but you should bring a piece of ID. Not only do we use it to double-check registrations, we trade you for your ID if/when you borrow our development equipment.

Tentative Schedule:

Friday (the 26th):

4:30 pm - Doors open / Registration begins. During this time, teams can form, chat, and brainstorm before things kick off.

5:15 pm - Opening remarks

5:30 pm - Tutorials begin (learn about topics such as game design, Unity 101, and Unreal engine). Quiet space is available in designated Jam rooms.

9:30 pm - Doors close

Saturday (the 27th):

9:00 am - Doors open

9:30 am - Welcome back, reminder of available help.

12:00 pm - Lunch begins

2:30 pm - Check-in, mentors circulate

5:00 pm - Show & tell (optional: 2 minutes for each team to describe what they’re making)

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The Games Institute acknowledges that we are living and working on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (also known as Neutral), Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.